Illuminating magnetically actuated pushbutton reed switch



Aug. 30, 1966 N. ALPERT 3,270,152

ILLUMINATING MAGNETICALLY ACTUATED PUSHBUTTON REED SWITCH Filed Feb. 1, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet J1 NV ENTOR.

NORMAN ALPERT ATTORNEY.

United States Patent 3,270,162 HJLUMINATENG MAGNETICALLY ACTUATED PUSHBUTTON REED SWITCH Norman Alpert, Scarstlale, N.Y., assignor to American lJvlachine & Foundry Company, a corporation of New ersey Filed Feb. 1, 1965, Ser. No. 429,368 2 Claims. (Cl. 335-153) This invention relates to magnetically actuated switches and more particularly to a push-button device which operates a magnetically operated reed switch,

Reed switches of the kind utilized by the invention generally comprise a hermetically sealed longitudinal glass tube with a reed contact having an overlapping portion with another contact contained therein and having terminals extending outside through the pinched end of the tube. As a magnetic flux is set up in the proximity of the reed, which is formally biased in one position in absence of magnetic flux, the reed is caused to alter its electrical contacts.

Switches of this kind have various advantages, including unusually long life and are utilized in accordance with the invention in a novel arrangement to provide a pushbutton electrical switch. Pushbutton switches are generally preferred over other kinds due to their facility and rapidity of operation and their compactness, as for example, when used on a panel which houses a plurality of switches.

It is an object of the invention to provide a novel pushbutton switching device which incorporates a magnetically actuated reed switch.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a pushbutton magnetic reed switch device adapted for use in conjunction with an illuminated indicator as a part of the switch arrangement.

Another object is to devise an improved illuminated indicator wherein a plurality of miniature lamp bulbs are employed as light sources, the arrangement being such that replacement of the lamp bulbs can be accomplished from the front and entirely by hand by lifting the pushbutton portion.

A further object of the invention is to devise an i1- luminated indicator employing a plurality of light sources each associated with a different one of a plurality of color chips, the color chips all being incorporated into a unitary support which is easily removable from the main indicator structure for replacement or change of color.

Another object is to provide in such devices a novel and improved lead-in arrangement and particularly to devise lead-in means wherein all of the terminal ends of the leads are disposed in a common plane.

A still further object is to provide a combined illuminated indicator and pushbutton switch embodying a plurality of switches incorporated into a removable unitary switch assembly, all of the switches being actuated simultaneously by .a single operating member.

The foregoing and additional objects of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed specification taken together with the drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the switch shown mounted in a fragmentary portion of a mounting panel.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 22 of FIG. 1 showing a construction in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2 partially cut away shOWing assembly elements of the switch, constructed in accordance with one em bodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view through the pushbutton portion which houses the color chips and light bulbs.

FIG. 5 is a partial longitudinal sectional view taken on the diagonal line 55 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 66 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a schematic representation showing the interrelated arrangement of reed contacts and terminals in the switch.

FIG. 8 is a partial sectional view near the bottom of the switch illustrating the terminal leads to the bulbs and switch.

FIGS. 9 and 10 are side elevational views, illustrated schematically, of alternate arrangements within the contemplation'of the invention.

Briefly the invention involves the utilization of a switch actuated by a pushbutton and equipped to house up to four independently actuated reed switches, and up to four independently actauted lights each of which may be a different color, the entire assembly being operable through a single pushbutton to provide an extremely compact and versatile unit.

Referring to the drawing, the arrangement comprises a pushbutton portion 11 and a switch housing 12 shown mounted in a panel 10.

The pushbutton portion 11 contains therein either integrally formed, or as a separate part, a web portion 16. Also, preferably formed as an integral part of pushbutton 13 are the pushbutton retainer legs 17 which function to hold portion 11 in portion 12 in operable relationship. The web portion 16 is formed to accommodate the color chip 32, each of which carries a bulb side electrical contact 22. Contact 22 is attached to the color chip 32 and, as shown, may also function, optionally, because of its structural configuration, as a retainer for the bulb in the color chip, so that the bulb and color chip may be inserted as a unit. Although four bulbs are shown and each may be provided with a color chip of a different color, any combination, one, two, three or four colors may be used. The pushbutton is provided with a conventional light diffuser 14 and a cover 15, which as shown in FIG. 1, may incorporate a legend or, alternately, :an identifying number. It should be noted that the light bulbs herein incorporated are optional to the operability of the pushbutton. Moreover, the light bulbs are not electrically connected to the reed switches; rather said light bulbs are responsive to electrical impulses outside said switches and serve normally simply to signal the operator who then may actuate the reed switch to carry out the appropriate function of the switch.

To position the color chips 32 in the web 16, a slidably mounted T-shaped rod 28 which is biased downward away from the cover 15 by a coil spring 29 is employed. The rod is held in an opening formed at the juncture of the web 16 extremity and the inner wall of pushbutton 13 (see FIG. 4) The top of the T of rod 28 by action of spring 29 is held down to its bottom limit of travel by the top extremity of the web 16 when the pushbutton is separated from the switch housing. At the same time the top of the T extends onto and holds down the color chips 32. By this arrangement when the pushbutton 13 is in position in housing 12, the bulb 30 and color chip 32 and contact 22, as well as rod 28 base, are held stationary against contact 23, as the pushbutton is depressed and spring 29 is compressed and web 16, extension or magnet pusher 33, and magnet 20 move downward against the force of the spring 21. When the pushbutton is returned by action of spring 21, spring 29 assures maintenance of bulb contact by maintaining pressure against the bulb assembly. In effect the color chip and light bulb assembly are held while the pushbutton 13, web 16 and portion 33 reciprocated as the button is pushed.

The central portion of the web 16 as shown engages a magnet pusher 33 such that when the pushbutton is de pressed around the stationary central element or rod screw 19, it moves the magnet longitudinally in relation to the hermetically sealed reed switches 35.

When the magnet is in the up (or non-depressed) position, the magnetic flux has no effect on the reed which is in the relaxed position, i.e. contacts 36 and 37 are engaged by having the reed 36 bent or biased against contact 37. When the pushbutton 13 is depressed, thereby pushing the magnet downward, compressing return spring 21, the magnetic flux influences the reed 36 breaking contact with 37 and engaging contact 38.

Housing 12 is essentially hollow, being molded, machined or otherwise contoured to accommodate, preferably in contoured recesses, the reed switches. The housing 12 is also provided with a web portion 27 which provides spacing and electrical insulation for bulbs 30 positioned therein as the pushbutton assembly is inserted therein. On the base of the web portions 27 is a bulb electrical contact 23 which, together with side contact 22, provides power for the lamp through connectors 41 and 42.

While a central screw 19 is shown as an aid to mounting the various elements in linear relationship, screw 19 is optional. This screw may function to hold panel mounting arrangement on the switch such as described in the pending application of S. Godel, S.N. 350,033, filed on March 6, 1964, entitled, Panel Mounting Devices. As shown in FIG. 2, the assembly comprises inserting the pushbutton return spring 21 in a recess in a lower portion 34 of the housing. The reed switches 35 are fitted in recesses in the corners of the housing 12. Although four reed switches are shown more may be employed. Also it will be apparent that one, two or three may be used instead. The lower portion 34 of the switch housing is secured by any suitable means to the housing 12 such as by screws, adhesive, etc.

The magnet 20 is placed in close proximity to each switch as shown and, preferably, the switch envelopes are partially nested in the magnet by designing the magnet so as to have a scalloped portion 24 as shown more clearly in FIG. 6. This provides more magnetic flux in proximity to the switches 35 by partially surrounding the switch with the magnet.

The electrical terminals arrangement is shown in FIG. 7. Contact strip 43 is connected to the reed 36 and projects through the bottom of the glass switch housing for connection to external electrical contacts as do the terminals 44 and 45. Shown at 39 is pressure pad which aid contacts 37 and 38 to maintain electrical connection with contacts 44 and 45, respectively, by biasing the switch housing 35 downward. For convenience, the reed switch exterior portion of normally closed terminal 37 may be bent to allow ample space for electrical insulation between ends 37 and 38. The bent, as distinguished from the straight, terminal may serve also to aid the identity of the normally closed connection.

To retain the pushbutton 13 in the housing 12, a flat detent spring 25 secured to the housing 12 below the web portion 27 is employed. Spring 25 flexes inwardly and engages in an elongated recess 17(a) formed in the pushbutton retainer 17. A deflectable protruding portion 25(a) of spring 25 rides in slot 17(a) on the downward stroke of the pushbutton offering no resistance to movement of pushbutton 13 with respect to housing 12. At the end of the upward stroke, portion 25 (a) contacts the bottom of slot 17 (a) and limits the further travel or accidental falling out of the pushbutton, i.e. thereby holding the pushbutton in position in housing 12. At the same time the combination of 25(a) in 17(a) allows the pushbutton 13 to be removed for inspection, servicing, etc., by overriding the force of the spring 25 by the deflection of portion 25(a) inwardly.

It will be noted that in the arrangement described, any single bulb will light up cover substantially uniformly in the color corresponding to the color chip of the lighted bulb. This uniform light is due to the angular construction of color chips 32 in combination with the diffuser 14.

As shown schematically in the alternate embodiment of FIG. 9 a movable coil which produces suitable flux to acuate the reed switch contacts when current flows therethrough may be used instead of a permanent magnet.

Reference parts having similar functions as in the embodiment of FIGS. 18 are indicated by similar reference numbers followed by A. In the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 9, the pushbutton 13A could operate so as to be locked out or unable to alter the contacts of the reed switch 35A until current to provide the necessary flux is flowing through the coil 50. The control of current could be at a place remote from the pushbutton through electrical connections 51, 52 and 53. In other words, by withholding the flow of current through coil 5!) by a suitable setup depressing the pushbutton 13A would be ineifective to alter the contacts of switches 35A, for example. In this embodiment, it will be apparent that the coil 50 is movable with pushbutton 13A; this being the functional equivalent to the permanent magnet 20 of FIGS. 1-8.

In the alternate arrangement shown schematically in FIG. 10, wherein similar parts are distinguished by following similar reference numerals with a B, a coil 50B is arranged to be stationary with respect to the reed switches 35B while the permanent magnet is movable with respect thereto. It will be apparent, however, that the reverse could be provided so that the permanent magnet can be arranged to be stationary while the coil is movable when the pushbutton is depressed.

In an arrangement of the kind shown in FIG. 10 the flux generated by coil 5013 as current flows therethrough (the control for which may be remote from the pushbuton switch) could be inadequate of itself to alter the reed switch contacts in the absence of magnetic force from the permanent magnet flux. When current is flowing through coil 50B and pushbutton 13B is depressed, moving the field of flux of permanent magnet 20B contiguous to the reed switch, however, the combined flux intensity is adequate to alter, e.g. close, the normally open contacts of reed switches 35B.

When the magnet 20B is returned by the spring 213, the flux from the coil 50B is sufiicient to prevent the reeds from reopening. De-energizing the coil subsequently will reopen the reeds. In this way the embodiment of FIG. 10 may be employed as a latching mechanism.

An arrangement of the kind contemplated by FIG. 10, it is apparent, offers the means to initiate a function locally by depressing the pushbutton 13B and magnet 20B to close normally open contacts of one or more reed switches 35B and thereafter, by cutting off the flow of current to the 50B, the function may be discontinued at a location remote from the pushbutton 1313.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described it will be understood that various modifications or alterations or substitution may be made to the disclosure presented without departing from the intent and scope of the invention defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a pushbutton electrical switch comprising an illuminated display, the combination including a longitudinal switch housing and a pushbutton reciprocal with respect to said housing, a light bulb positioned in said pushbutton and illuminated by an electrical impulse from a source other than the impulse provided by said switch, said light bulb being spring-mounted in said pushbutton so as to be relatively stationary as said pushbutton is reciprocated relative to said housing, at least one reed switch secured in said housing, a permanent magnet mounted so as to reciprocate with respect to said reed switch and to actuate the contacts of the switch as the magnet is brought into proximity to the contacts of said reed switch said pushbutton being removably attached to said housing and interconnected with said magnet in a manner such that movement of the pushbutton provides movement of the magnet, said pushbutton being at least partially insert 5 6 able in one end of said housing, spring means positioned 3,163,708 12/ 1964 McMains 200167 in said housing to return said magnet and pushbutton after 3,176,097 3/1965 Wood 20087 it has been depressed and released, electrical contacts for OTHER REFERENCES said switch and said light bulb secured at the other end of aid housing and cooperating means on said housing Vanable Made Pushbutton SWltCh, Funk 61: al.,

and pushbutton f retaining them in operative relatiom Technical Disclosure Bulletin, vol. 6, No. 11, April 1964,

ship. P

2. The pushbutton switch of claim 1, wherein a coil Referen Cited by the Applicant through which current is passed is employed in lieu of the permanent magnet. 10 UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,093,718 6/1963 Blornquist et al. References Cited by the Examiner 3,103,659 9/ 1963 Edwards. 4

UNITED STATES PATENTS BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Primary Examiner. 2,923,791 2/ 1960 Corbitt et al. 20087 3 57 771 11 19 4 Roesel- 2 159 15 B-DOBECKASSI'SMW Examiner 

1. IN A PUSHBOTTON ELECTRICAL SWITCH COMPRISING AN ILLUMINATED DISPLAY, THE COMBINATION INCLUDING A LONGITUDINAL SWITCH HOUSING AND A PUSHBUTTON RECIPROCAL WITH RESPECT TO SAID HOUSING, A LIGHT BULB POSITIONED IN SAID PUSHBOTTON AND ILLUMINATED BY AN ELECTRICAL IMPULSE FROM A SOURCE OTHER THAN THE IMPULSE PROVIDED BY SAID SWITCH, SAID LIGHT BULB BEING SPRING-MOUNTED IN SAID PUSHBUTTON SO AS TO BE RELATIVELY STATIONARY AS SAID PUSHBUTTON IS RECIPROCATED RELATIVE TO SAID HOUSING, AT LEAST ONE REED SWITCH SECURED IN SAID HOUSING, A PERMANENT MAGNET MOUNTED SO AS TO RECIPROCATE WITH RESPECT TO SAID REED SWITCH AND TO ACTUATE THE CONTACTS OF THE SWITCH AS THE MAGNET IS BROUGHT INTO PROXIMITY TO THE CONTACTS OF SAID REED SWITCH AND PUSHBUTTON BEING REMOVABLY ATTACHED TO SAID HOUSING AND INTERCONNECTED WITH SAID MAGNET IN A MANNER SUCH THAT MOVEMENT OF THE PUSHBUTTON PROVIDES MOVEMENT OF THE MAGNET, SAID PUSHBUTTON BEING AT LEAST PARTIALLY INSERTABLE IN ONE END OF SAID HOUSING, SPRING MEANS POSITIONED IN SAID HOUSING TO RETURN SAID MAGNET AND PUSHBUTTON AFTER IT HAS BEEN DEPRESSED AND RELEASED, ELECTRICAL CONTACTS FOR SAID SWITCH AND SAID LIGHT BULB SECURED AT THE OTHER END OF SAID HOUSING, AND COOPERATING MEANS ON SAID HOUSING AND PUSHBUTTON FOR RETAINING THEM IN OPERATIVE RELATIONSHIP. 